Polishing holder for workpiece end surface

ABSTRACT

In a polishing holder for workpiece end surface, a main body and a framework are respectively provided with corresponding fixing portions, at least one of the two fixing portions has at least one set of upper and lower contact portions, the upper and the lower contact portions on each set are respectively disposed above and below a contact plane of the polished end surface of the workpiece and a polishing surface; the mutual contact restriction between the upper and lower contact portions and another fixing portion is used to allow the main body to be maintained parallel to the polishing surface and the pressure exerted on the polished end surface of each workpiece to be closer to an equivalent value. Whereby, the number of simultaneously polished optical fiber end surfaces can be increased so as to elevate the polishing speed and quality.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a polishing apparatus for workpiece end surface, and more particularly to a holder for supporting a polished-to-be optical fiber end surface.

2. Description of Related Art

Optical fiber communication is an indispensable communication tool at the present and in the future. The main structure of an optical fiber connecter used for the optical fiber communication, as FIG. 1 shows, is constituted by allowing a fiber optical 11 to be passed through a ferrule 12 and then adhered to the ferrule 12 with an adhesive. The ferrule 12 can be made from plastic, glass or ceramics. A projecting spherical surface 121 of the end surface of the ferrule 12 is pressed on an elastic polishing surface and formed by means of coarse grinding, fine grind and polishing. The projecting spherical surface 121 must be a flawless curved surface. Here, an optical axis of the projecting spherical surface 121 can be parallel to a central line of the optical fiber 11 and can also be slanted up to a small angle in relation to the central line.

A conventional method for polishing an optical fiber end surface is allowing the optical fiber end surface to be static and not to be moved, and allowing a polishing surface to be rotated and revolved to process the polishing on the optical fiber end surface; it can be known from a mathematical analysis disclosed in Taiwan Patent No. 485863 entitled as “Polishing apparatus for optical fiber end surface”. If the movement way of the polishing surface is rotation plus revolution, the optical fiber end surface is merely arranged on the circumference of the optical fiber end surface holder. If there is only revolution without rotation, the wearing degree of every place on the whole optical fiber end surface is the same. The optical end surfaces can be equally arranged on the whole optical fiber end surface. Besides, the patent mentioned above also discloses that if the polishing surface is fabricated to be linear and the polishing particles on one side of the linear polishing surface are coarser and the particles of another side thereof are finer. As FIG. 2 shows, slide a several optical fiber end surface holders 2, 3 and 4 on a linear polishing surface 5 simultaneously, in which particles of a right side 6 of the polishing surface is coarser, and a left side 7 of the polishing surface is finer. The pressure between the optical fiber end surface arranged on a different position of the holder and the polishing surface 5 is allowed to be uniform. The optical fiber end surface holder 2, 3 and 4 are slid from the side of the polishing 5 with coarser particles toward the side thereof with finer particles and hence, the coarse and the fine grinding and the polishing procedures can be done at one time. Thus, if the problem that the pressure between the optical fiber end surface and the polishing surface is not uniform can be solved, theoretically, a great number of optical fiber end surfaces can be polished simultaneously.

Basically, the uneven pressure origins from the following reasons:

1. supporting points of the optical fiber end surface holder is not on the force exerting surface generated from the friction between the optical fiber end surface and the polishing surface so that a torque force is yielded to cause the holder to be slanted to generate uneven pressure; 2. that the polishing surface is not parallel to the holder might also cause uneven pressure to be yielded if the optical fiber end surface holder is clipped and fixed.

Please refer to FIGS. 3 and 4. A conventional optical fiber end surface polishing apparatus comprises a polishing surface 21, an optical fiber end surface ferrule 22, an optical fiber end surface holder 23 and a pressing fixing rod 24, in which a polished-to-be end of the optical fiber 25 is combined within the optical fiber end surface ferrule 22. When there is a relative movement between the end surface of the optical fiber 25 and the polishing surface 21, the optical fiber end surface holder 23 is subject to a transverse force at the end surface thereof. But, the supporting point is at the position of a contact point 31 or contact point 32 at this time such that the optical fiber end surface holder 23 is subject to a counterclockwise torque force and hence, the slanting state thereof is yielded as FIG. 4 shows to cause the optical fiber end surface 251 to be lower than the optical fiber end surface 252, i.e. cause the pressure exerted on the end surface 251 is larger than the end surface 252.

For solving the aforementioned problem, U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,846 discloses a spacer used for maintain the distance between a workpiece and a polishing surface. Because the polishing surface is elastic, maintaining the distance means maintaining the pressure. In such manner, certain of improvements can be obtained because parts of the uneven pressure are born by the spacer, but, the torque force still exists because the fundamental structure is not changed; the factors leading the pressure to be uneven still exist.

Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,630 discloses utilizing pressure sensor to measure instant pressure and compensate the unevenness of pressure by means of the method for electronically controlling a spring.

Furthermore, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,154 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,445 respectively propose a design for clipping and fixing an optical fiber end surface, as FIG. 5 shows, in which an optical fiber end surface holder 41 is combined with a plurality of optical fiber fixtures 42 for clipping optical fibers 43. The optical fiber end surface holder 41 is fixed by the fixture 42 on the upper side of the polishing surface 45. Because the optical fiber end surface holder 41 is clipped and fixed, the slanting problem generated from the torque force will not happen. But, there is still one problem; because the holder 41 is clipped to fix and the direction of the polishing surface 45 is also fixed in this design, in general, the holder 41 and the polishing surface 45 certainly not be able to be accurately parallel to each other. At this moment in time, the common practice is to adjust the angle of the fixture 42 used for fixing the holder 41. But, this is not a natural contact such that a little unparallel phenomenon certainly exists. Besides, the pressure between the end surface of the optical fiber 43 and the polishing surface 45 is exerted upwards from below; such kind of manner is not only complex but also inconvenient to be automated. Furthermore, if the polishing surface is linear as FIG. 2 shows and the many optical end surface holders are disposed and simultaneously slid on this linear polishing surface, it is then difficult to maintain the uniform pressure of the optical fiber end surface at different positions on each holder.

Furthermore, Taiwan Patent No. 222915 entitled as “Polishing Holder for optical fiber end surface” discloses two principles of obtaining uniform pressure as the following.

1. An optical fiber end surface holder cannot be clipped and fixed, and the holder as well as a polishing surface must naturally contact with each other. It is also to say that the holder is followed to oscillate up and down if the polishing surface is oscillated and the average pressure of the end surface at different positions on the holder still is uniform while being oscillated up and down. 2. A plane formed by the optical fiber end surface in the process of polishing, i.e. a force exerting surface that the polishing surface exerts force on the holder needs to be designed with one or a several supporting points for the optical fiber end surface holders because the optical fiber end surface holders are not moved or rotated with the polishing surface in principle in the process of polishing. For allowing the pressure to be uniform, theses supporting points must be on this force exerting surface so as to keep the optical fiber end surface holders not to follow the polishing surface to move or rotate.

Please refer to FIGS. 6A and 6B. A holder designed by using these principles includes one shown as below. This holder comprises a main body 50 having a fixing groove 51 indented on the lower side of the center of the main body 60 for accepting a fixing rod 52. A plurality of symmetrical accepting grooves 53 for accepting counterweights 54 are respectively disposed on the side of the main body 50 close to the periphery thereof. The accepting groove 53 can be curved groove type, circular tube type or long groove type. The main body 50 can be circular or square. The main body 50 is combined with a plurality of fixtures 500. each fixture 500 is combined at least one optical fiber end surface ferrule 55 and hence, combined with a polished-to-be optical fiber 56. A polishing surface 57 is disposed below the ferrules 55 and the polishing surface 57 is combined with the upper side of the main body 58. The upper end of the fixing rod 52 is combined with a framework 59. The bottom of the fixing rod 52 is provided with a contact portion 521 with a projected-out outer diameter. The contact portion 521 and the fixing groove 51 are formed as corresponding convex and concave surfaces, e.g. designed as corresponding polygons to allow the relative rotation not to be generated between the fixing rod 52 and the fixing groove 51. The fixing rod 52 in the present invention does not exert a downward pressure on the main body 50. The function of the fixing rod 52 only limits the main body 50 to enable it not to be moved or rotated.

The characteristic of this holder is that only the contact portion 521 of the fixing rod 52 contacts with the fixing groove 51, and the contact portion 521 and the plurality of the polished end surfaces of optical fibers 56 along with a contact surface of the polishing end surface are approximately at the same plane to allow the supporting points of the main body 50 to be on a force exerting surface generated from the friction between the bottom of the optical fiber 56 and the polishing surface 57 and hence, the phenomenon that the torque force is yielded to cause the main body 50 to be slanted to generate the uneven pressure will not happen.

The pressuring manner of using the counterweights 54 to exert downward pressure on the main body 50 to allow the polished end surfaces of the optical fibers 56 to naturally contact with the polishing surface 57 allows the main body 50 to follow the polishing surface 57 to be oscillated up and down as the polishing surface 57 is oscillated up and down. Therefore, the contact pressure between the polished end surface of the optical fiber 56 at the different positions of the main body 50 and the polishing surface 57 can rather be maintained the same to enable the same operation batch of polished end surfaces to obtain the same polishing shape so as to elevate the polishing speed and quality.

Please refer to FIG. 7. A plurality of symmetrical accepting grooves 61 for accepting counterweights 62 are disposed on the periphery of a main body 60 of a holder of another preferred embodiment according to the Taiwan patent mentioned above allows the main body 60 to have force to cause the end surfaces of a plurality of optical fibers 63 to press down a polishing surface 64 such that the main body 60 contact naturally with the polishing surface 64. But, the main body 60 is not provided with the fixing groove 51 of the main body 50 shown in FIG. 6A, and a plurality of symmetrical fixing rods 65 are disposed below the sides of the main body 60, a projecting contact portion 651 is disposed on the bottom of each fixing rod 65 and positioned in a fixing groove 661 of each framework 66. A weephole 662 for draining fluid dropped into the accepting groove 661 during polishing is disposed on the lower end of the fixing groove 661. A contact surface of the contact portion 651 and the fixing groove 661 is at the same plane as a contact surface of the bottoms of the plurality of optical fibers 63 to allow the supporting points of the main body 60 to be on a force exerting surface generated by the bottoms of the optical fibers 63 and the polishing surface. Thus, a torque force is not yielded to cause the main body 60 to be slanted and hence, the uneven pressure generation phenomenon can be avoided.

A current conventional optical fiber end surface polishing machine mostly can only polish twelve end surfaces or more at one time but no more than forty eight or sixty four. If it is necessary to polish a great number of end surfaces at one time in the future, more time is needed to take to complete polishing to those whose pressure is uneven and smaller and hence, the polishing efficiency is influenced. Therefore, if more optical fiber end surfaces are polished simultaneously at one time, whether pressure distribution is uniform is more important.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For further improving the structure of holder supporting points to allow a holder to be more parallel to a polishing surface in the process of polishing and increase the number of simultaneously polished optical fiber end surfaces so as to elevate the polishing speed and quality, the prevent invention is proposed.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a polishing holder for workpiece end surface, allowing the holder rather to maintain parallel to a plane formed by a force exerting surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a polishing holder for workpiece end surface, allowing the holder rather to naturally contact with a framework, an optical fiber end surface on the holder rather to press a polishing surface in a nature contact manner and the polished end surface of each optical fiber to be subject to pressure closer to an equivalent value.

For attaining to the objects mentioned above, the present invention proposes a polishing holder for workpiece end surface used for combining with a polished-to-be workpiece; it comprises a main body and a framework, in which the main body is coupled to a plurality of fixtures used for coupling to polished-to-be workpieces; the main body and the framework are respectively provided with corresponding fixing portions, at least one of the two fixing portions is provided with at least one set of upper contact portion and lower contact portion, the upper contact portion and the lower contact portion on each set are respectively disposed on the upper side and the lower side of a contact plane of a polished end surface of the workpiece and a polishing surface. The mutual contact restriction of the upper contact portion, the lower contact portion and another fixing portion is used to allow the main body to maintain parallel to the polishing surface so as to elevate the polishing speed and quality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more fully understood by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional optical fiber connecter;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional polishing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a conventional polishing apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a conventional polishing apparatus in use;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional holder coupled to fixtures;

FIG. 6A is a cross sectional view of a holder structure of a preferred embodiment disclosed by a Taiwan patent;

FIG. 6B is a locally-enlarged cross sectional view showing a part of FIG. 6A by enlarging it;

FIG. 7 is a cross section al view of a holder structure of another preferred embodiment disclosed by a Taiwan patent;

FIG. 8A is a schematic view of a first article withstanding structure;

FIG. 8B is a schematic view of a second article withstanding structure;

FIG. 9A is a cross sectional view showing a first polishing holder of a first embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 9B is a locally-enlarged cross sectional view showing a part of FIG. 9A by enlarging it;

FIG. 9C is a cross sectional view showing a second polishing holder of the first embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 9D is a cross sectional view showing a third polishing holder of the first embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view showing a polishing holder of a second preferred embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 11A is a cross sectional view showing a polishing holder of a third preferred embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 11B is a locally-enlarged cross sectional view showing a part of FIG. 11A by enlarging it;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view showing a polishing holder of a fourth preferred embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view showing a polishing holder of a fifth preferred embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view showing a polishing holder of a sixth preferred embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 15A is a cross sectional view showing a first polishing holder of a seventh embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 15B is a cross sectional view showing a second polishing holder of the seventh embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 15C is a cross sectional view showing a third polishing holder of the seventh embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 16A is a cross sectional view showing a first polishing holder of an eighth embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 16B is a cross sectional view showing a second polishing holder of the eighth embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 16C is a cross sectional view showing a third polishing holder of the eighth embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view showing a polishing holder of a ninth preferred embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view showing a polishing holder of a tenth preferred embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view showing a polishing holder of an eleventh preferred embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view showing a polishing holder of a twelfth preferred embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view showing a fixing rod of a first embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a cross sectional view showing a fixing groove of a first embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a cross sectional view showing a fixing rod of a second embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a cross sectional view showing a fixing groove of a second embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 25A is a cross sectional view showing a fixing groove engaged with a fixing rod of a first embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 25B is a cross sectional view showing a fixing groove engaged with a fixing rod of a second embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 25C is a cross sectional view showing a fixing groove engaged with a fixing rod of a third embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a cross sectional view showing a fixing rod of a third embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a cross sectional view showing a fixing groove engaged with a fixing rod of a fourth embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a cross sectional view showing a fixing groove engaged with a fixing rod of a fifth embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a cross sectional view showing a fixing groove engaged with a fixing rod of a sixth embodiment according to the present invention; and

FIG. 30 is a cross sectional view showing a fixing groove of a third embodiment according to the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 8A and 8B. From the viewpoint of dynamics, if an article A is moved from left to right, structures used for withstanding the article A at least have two kinds respectively shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. It is obvious that the structure shown in FIG. 8B is better than the structure withstanding the article A only by one supporting point shown in FIG. 8A, because withstanding the article A by both of upper and lower supporting points is more stable to enable the article A not to be slanted an angle after being stopped.

Please refer to 6A, 9A and 9B. According to a holder of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, except a set of upper and lower contact portions 711 and 712 projected from the outer diameter disposed on the bottom of a fixing rod 71 is different from only one contact portion 521 disposed on the fixing rod 51 shown in FIG. 6A, other structures thereof approximately are the same as the holder shown in FIG. 6A. The upper contact portion 711 and the lower contact portion 712 are respectively disposed above and below a contact plane 713 of the polished end surfaces of the optical fibers 56 and a polishing surface 57 and had better be equally distanced from the contact plane 713. The polishing surface 57 can be a hard or elastic polishing surface.

In the process of polishing, the holder of the present invention subjects to the contact restriction of the inner wall of the fixing groove 51 through the upper and lower contact portions 711 and 712 and even allows the inner wall of the fixing groove 51 to keep parallel to the fixing rod 71 and the main body 50 to keep parallel to the polishing surface 57 such that the pressure acted on the polished surface of each optical fiber 56 is more uniform to enable the polishing of a large number of end surfaces of optical fibers to become possible.

Please refer to FIGS. 9B and 9C. A holder of a second practical mode according to the first embodiment of the present invention mode allows the outer diameter of the bottom of the fixing rod 71′ to be provided with a projection section 711′ in which upper and lower contact portions 712′ and 713′ are formed on the upper and lower ends of the projection sections 711′. The upper and the lower contact portions 712′ and 713′are respectively disposed above and below a contact plane 714′ of the polished end surface of an optical fiber and a polishing surface and had better be equally distanced from the contact plane 714′; it can attain to the same effect as the set of projecting upper and lower contact portions 711 and 712 disposed on the outer diameter of the bottom of the fixing rod 71 mentioned above. This practical mode can also be applied in other embodiments.

Please refer to FIGS. 9B and 9D. A holder of a third practical mode according to the first embodiment of the present invention allows the upper and the lower ends of an inner wall 511′ of a fixing groove 51′ for accepting the bottom of a fixing rod 71″ are respectively taken as upper and lower contact portions 512′ and 513′. The upper and the lower contact portions 512′ and 513′ are respectively disposed above and below a contact plane 711″ of the polished end surface of an optical fiber and a polishing surface and had better be equally distanced from the contact plane 711″; it can also attain to the same effect as the set of projecting upper and lower contact portions 711 and 712 disposed on the outer diameter of the bottom of the fixing rod 71 mentioned above. This practical mode is completely different from the structure that the positions of the supporting points of the conventional optical fiber end surface holder 23 at the contact point 31 or the contact point 32 are all higher than the contact plane of the polished end surface of the optical fiber and the polishing surface. The supporting points of the holder of this practical mode at the upper contact portion 512′ and the lower contact portion 513′ are respectively above and below the contact plane 711″ of the polished end surface of the optical fiber and the polishing surface such that the holder will not subject to a counterclockwise twist force. This practical mode can also be applied in other embodiments.

Please refer to FIGS. 9A and 10. Almost all structures of a holder of a second preferred embodiment according to the present invention are the same as the holder shown in FIG. 9A except a main body 72 thereof is not provided with the accepting groove 53 of the main body 50 shown in FIG. 9A. But, this embodiment allows a fixing rod 71 to exert force downward on the main body 72; it also allows the force exerted on a polished surface of each optical fiber to be more uniform and can attain to the effect of polishing a large number of optical fiber end surfaces.

Please refer to FIGS. 9A, 11A and 11B. In a holder of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, almost all structures thereof are the same as the holder shown in FIG. 9A, except the inner wall of a fixing groove 731 of a main body 73 is provided with one set of upper and lower contact portions 732 and 733 projected inward the groove and a fixing rod 74 is not provided with the set of upper and lower contact portions 711 and 712 shown in FIG. 9A. The upper contact portion 732 and the lower contact portion 733 are disposed above and below a contact plane of the polished end surface of the optical fiber 56 and the polishing surface 57; it also allows the force exerted on a polished surface of each optical fiber to be more uniform and can attain to the effect of polishing a larger number of optical fiber end surfaces.

Please refer to FIGS. 11A and 12. In a holder of a fourth preferred embodiment according to the present invention, almost all structures thereof is the same as the holder shown in FIG. 11A, except the main body 75 is not provided with the accepting grooves 730 of the main body 73 shown in FIG. 11A and the fixing rod 76 exerts a downward force on the main body 75; it also allows the force exerted on a polished surface of each optical fiber to be more uniform and can attain to the effect of polishing a large number of optical fiber end surfaces.

Please refer to FIGS. 7 and 13. In a holder of a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention, almost all structure thereof are the same as the holder shown in 7, except that the bottom of a fixing rod 781 of a main body 78 is provided with one set of projecting upper and lower contact portions 782 and 783 and a fixing groove 671 of a framework 67 is longer is different from that the fixing rod 65 is merely provided with one contact portion 651 and the fixing groove 661 of the framework 66 is shorter. The upper contact portion 782 and the lower contact portion 783 are respectively disposed above and below a contact plane 641 of the polished end surface of the optical fiber 63 and the polishing surface 64. A weephole is disposed at the lower end of the fixing groove 671.

In the process of polishing, the holder of the present invention even allows the fixing rod 781 to keep parallel to the inner wall of the fixing groove 671, the main body 78 to keep parallel to the polishing surface 64 such that the pressure acted on the polished surface of each optical fiber 63 is more uniform to enable the polishing of a large number of end surfaces of optical fibers to be possible by contacting the upper and the lower contact portions 782 and 783 with the inner wall of the fixing groove 671.

Please refer to FIGS. 13 and 14. In a holder of a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention, almost all structures thereof are the same as the holder shown in FIG. 13, except the inner wall of a fixing groove 681 of a framework 68 is provided with one set of upper and lower contact portions 682 and 683 projected inward the groove and a fixing rod 791 of a main body 79 is not provided with the set of upper and lower contact portions 782 and 783 shown in FIG. 13. the upper contact portion 682 and the lower contact portion 683 are disposed above and below a contact plane of the polished end surface of the optical fiber 63 and the polishing surface 64; it also allows the force exerted on a polished surface of each optical fiber to be more uniform and can attain to the effect of polishing a large number of optical fiber end surfaces. A weephole is disposed at the lower end of the fixing groove 681.

Please refer to FIGS. 14, 15A, 15B and 15C. In a holder of a seventh preferred embodiment according to the present invention, almost all structures thereof are the same as the holder shown in FIG. 14, except a framework 69 is provided with a plurality of sets of circular upper and lower contact portions 691 and 692 extended toward one side of a main body 79 as FIG. 15A shows, the upper and the lower ends of the fixing groove of a framework 69′ are respectively used as upper and lower contact portions 691′ and 692′ as FIG. 15B shows and the upper end of the fixing groove of a framework 69″ is used as a upper contact portion 691″ together with a portion of the inner wall of the fixing groove of the framework 69″ corresponding to a fixing rod 791 of a main body 73 is used as a lower contact portion 692″ as FIG. 15C shows to respectively replace the upper and the lower contact portions 682 and 683 disposed on the inner wall of the fixing groove 681 as FIG. 14 shows. The upper contact portions 691, 691′ and 691″ and the lower contact portions 692, 692′ and 692″ are respectively disposed above and below the contact plane 641 of the polished surface of the optical fiber 63 and the polishing surface 64 to enable the oscillation of the main body 79 yielded in the process of polishing to be suppressed down to allow the fixing rod 791 to be maintained parallel to the inner wall of the fixing groove and the main body 79 rather to be maintained parallel to the polishing surface 64 and the force exerted on a polished surface of each optical fiber to be more uniform as well as can attain to the effect of polishing a large number of optical fiber end surfaces by contacting the upper contact portions 691, 691′ and 691″ and the lower contact portions 692, 692′ and 692″ of the framework 69 respectively with the fixing rod 791. A weephole is disposed at the lower end of the fixing groove of the framework.

Please refer to FIGS. 16A, 16B and 16C. A holder of an eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body 80 and a plurality of fixtures 801 coupled thereto, in which each fixture 801 is combined with at least one optical fiber end surface ferrule 802 coupled to an optical fiber 803. A polishing surface 81 coupled to the upper side of a base 811 is disposed below the ferrule 802. A plurality of symmetrical accepting grooves 804 used for accepting counterweights 805 are disposed on the periphery of the main body 80. The main body 80 is provided with a fixing portion, i.e. a plurality of sets of symmetrical circular upper and lower contact portions 806 and 807 are extended outward from the main body 80 as FIG. 16A shows, the upper and the lower ends of the fixing grooves of the main body 80 are respectively used to take as upper and lower contact portions 806′ and 807′ as FIG. 16B shows and a portion of the inner wall of the fixing groove of the main body 80 corresponding to the upper end of a fixing rod 821 of a framework 82 is used to take as a upper contact portion 806″ together with the lower end of the fixing groove of a main body 80″ is used to take as a lower contact portion 807″ as FIG. 16C shows. The framework 82 is provided with another fixing portion, i.e. the framework 82 is provided with the fixing rod 821 respectively corresponding to each one of the upper contact portions 806, 806′ and 806″ and each one of the lower contact portions 807, 507′ and 807″. Each one of the upper contact portions 806, 806′ and 806″ and each one of the lower contact portions 807, 507′ and 807″ are respectively put around the fixing rod 821 to cause the position of the main body 80 to be restricted and not to be moved or rotated. The upper contact portions 806, 806′ and 806″ and the lower contact portions 807, 807′ and 807″ are respectively disposed above and below the contact plane 812 of the polished surface of the optical fiber 803 and the polishing surface 81 to enable the oscillation of the main body 80 yielded in the process of polishing to be suppressed down to allow the inner wall of the fixing groove to be maintained parallel to the fixing rod 821 and the main body 80 rather to be maintained parallel to the polishing surface 81 and the force exerted on a polished surface of each optical fiber to be more uniform as well as can attain to the effect of polishing a large number of optical fiber end surfaces by contacting the upper contact portions 806, 806′ and 806″ and the lower contact portions 807, 807′ and 807″ of the main body 80 respectively with the fixing rod 821.

Every kind of structure of corresponding upper and lower contact portions disclosed in the seventh and the eighth embodiments of the present invention can also be applied in other embodiments.

Please refer to FIGS. 12 and 17. In a holder of a ninth preferred embodiment according to the present invention, almost all structures thereof are the same as the holder shown in FIG. 12, except a plurality of symmetrical fixing grooves 831 are disposed on the periphery of a main body 83 and each fixing groove 831 accepts a fixing rod 841 to replace the structure of only one fixing groove with only one fixing rod 76 disposed on the center of the main body 72 shown in FIG. 12. Besides, each fixing groove 831 is provided with one set of upper and lower contact portions 832 and 833. A framework 84 is coupled to the upper side of each fixing rod 841 and each fixing rod 841 exerts a downward force on the main body 83.

Please refer to FIGS. 17 and 18. In a holder of a tenth preferred embodiment according to the present invention, almost all structures thereof are the same as the holder shown in FIG. 17, except the inner wall of a fixing groove 851 of a main body 85 is not provided with the upper and the lower contact portions 832 and 833 shown in FIG. 7 and a fixing rod 861 is provided with upper and lower contact portions 862 and 863. The upper side of each fixing rod 861 is coupled to a framework 86 and each fixing rod 861 exerts a downward force on the main body 85.

Please refer to FIG. 19. In a holder of an eleventh preferred embodiment according to the present invention, a plurality of symmetrical accepting grooves 871 for accepting counterweight are disposed above a main body 87 thereof and a plurality of symmetrical fixing rods 872 are disposed on the bottom of the main body 87. The bottom of the fixing rod 872 is provided with one set of projecting upper and lower contact portions 873 and 874. The upper and the lower contact portions 873 and 874 are accepted in a fixing groove 881 on a casing type framework 88. The framework 88 is provided with one pair of indented sides 882 and the bottom of the fixing groove 881 is provided with a weephole. The fixing groove 881 is disposed on the indented side 882. The framework 88 can be moved above a continuous polishing surface 89 so as to process a polishing operation on a polishing surface with different sizes of particles.

Please refer to FIG. 20. In a holder of a twelfth preferred embodiment according to the present invention, a plurality of symmetrical fixing grooves 901 for accepting a fixing rod 911 are disposed on the periphery of a main body 90 thereof. The fixing rod 911 is coupled to a casing type framework 91 and the fixing rod 911 can exert a downward pressure from above on a main body 90. The upper and the lower contact portions mentioned above are disposed between the fixing groove 901 and the fixing rod 911 of this embodiment.

Each embodiment of the present invention mentioned above shows, a fixing portion of a main body and a fixing portion of a main body can respectively be a fixing rod and a fixing groove having upper and lower contact portions, or can respectively be corresponding circular upper and lower contact portions and a fixing rod.

Another key problem is that pressure is necessary to be added on a holder in the process of polishing. A pressuring way can be pressuring with counterweights or pressuring by means of oil or air pressure. Besides, there is a little vertical oscillation yielded in a polishing surface more or less in the process of polishing. For maintaining very good uniform pressure, the holder and the polishing surface need naturally contact with each other. It is also to say that when the polishing surface is oscillated vertically, the holder also follows it to be oscillated. At this time, contact portions disposed on the main body or the framework had better have expansion and contraction motion as the holder is oscillated. These upper and lower contact portions disposed on the fixing groove, the framework and the fixing rod can be variously designed depending on the magnitude of the vertical oscillation of the polishing surface. Upper contact portions 921, 931 and lower contact portions 922, 932 of a fixing rod 92 and a fixing groove 93, as FIGS. 21 and 22 show, can be made from a circular or linear elastic material such as rubber or plastic. Otherwise, the upper contact portions 923, 933 and the lower contact portions 924, 934, as FIGS. 23 and 24 show, are made from the outer rim of an elastic material plus contact portions 925, 926, 935 and 936 made from a circular or linear hard material. The hard material can be plastic or metal.

Please refer to FIGS. 25A, 25B and 25C. In the present invention, upper contact portions 942, 952 and lower contact portions 943, 953 are also respectively disposed on a fixing groove 941 and a fixing rod 951 and all can also have a harder contact portion as FIG. 25A shows. Otherwise, upper and lower contact portions are not disposed on a fixing groove 941′, but upper and lower contact portions 952′ and 953′ are disposed on a fixing rod 951′ and all have a harder contact portion as FIG. 25B shows. Otherwise, harder upper and lower contact portions 942″ and 943″ are disposed on a fixing groove 941″ and projecting upper and lower contact portions 952″ and 953″ are disposed on a fixing rod 951″ as FIG. 25C shows.

Please refer to FIG. 26. If the vertical oscillation of a main body of a holder is bigger, a fluid-storage tank 961 can be disposed in a metal-made fixing rod 96; the fluid-storage tank 961 is filled up with oil and the oil contact with the inner sides of upper and lower contact portions 962 and 963. When the upper contact portion 962 or the lower contact portion 963 is thrust to contract inward owing to the vertical oscillation of the main body of the holder, it will thrust the oil in the fluid-storage tank 961 to cause another to be projected outward. Thus, the upper and the lower contact portions 962 and 963 can still naturally contact with a framework as the main body of the holder is vertically oscillated.

Please refer to FIGS. 26 and 27. In a fixing rod 97 of another preferred embodiment of the present invention, almost all structures thereof are the same as the fixing rod 96 shown in FIG. 26 and can also attain to the same effect, except the fluid-storage tank 961 is caused to be a circular fluid-storage tank 971. Besides, a circular fluid-storage tank 981 can also be disposed in the inner wall of a fixing groove 98 and oil in the fluid-storage tank 981 is allowed to contact with upper and lower contact portions 982 and 983. When a main body of a holder is vertically oscillated to drive upper and lower contact portions 982 and 983 or the fixing rod 97 to incline toward one side to cause one of the upper contact portion 972 and the lower contact portion 973 to thrust the upper contact portion 982 or the lower contact portion 983 to allow one of these to be contracted inward and the another to be projected outward to enable the fixing rod 97 and the fixing groove 98 to maintain a natural contact in the process of polishing so as to attain to the good polishing effect. The upper contact portions 972, 982 and the lower contact portions 973, 983 of this embodiment all can have a harder contact portion.

Please refer to FIGS. 28, 29 and 30. If the magnitude of the relative oscillation between a fixing rod 992 placed in a fixing groove 991 and the fixing groove 991 is bigger in the process of polishing, a pivoting portion 994 on one end of a support bracket is allowed to pivotally connect to the outside wall of the fixing rod 992 to enable a movable allowance to exist between the fixing rod 992 and the fixing groove 991; the fixing groove 991 is provided with a hole for allowing the support bracket 993 to be passed through as FIG. 28 shows. Otherwise, the outside walls of fixing grooves 995 and 996 are respectively allowed to pivotally connect to a pivoting portion 998 of a support bracket 667 as FIGS. 29 and 30 show. The pivoting portions 994 and 998 are respectively positioned between the upper and the lower contact portions of the fixing rods 991 and 999 or the fixing grooves 995 and 996. The pivoting portions 994 and 992 can be a ball bearing.

The holder of the present invention is allowed to be more parallel to the polishing surface, the holder can rather be maintained naturally contacting with the framework, a pressuring way by means of natural contacting is formed between the optical fiber end surface on the holder and the polishing surface and the pressure exerted on the polished end surface of each optical fiber is allowed to be equivalent. Whereby, the number of simultaneously polished optical fiber end surfaces can be increased so as to elevate the polishing speed and quality.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A polishing holder for workpiece end surface, adapted to couple to a polished-to-be workpiece, comprising a main body and a framework; said main body being coupled to a plurality of fixtures thereby being used for coupling to said polished-to-be workpieces; said main body and said mainframe being respectively provided with two corresponding fixing portions, at least one of said fixing portions having at least one set of upper and lower contact portions, said upper and said lower contact portions on each set being respectively disposed above and below a contact plane of a polished end surface of said workpiece and a polishing surface; whereby, the mutual contact restriction of said upper, said lower contact portions and said another fixing portion is used to allow said main body to be maintained parallel to said polishing surface.
 2. The holder according to claim 1, wherein said fixing portion comprises at least one fixing groove; said another fixing portion comprises at least one fixing rod and said fixing rods are respectively accepted in each said fixing groove; each said fixing rod is provided with said projected-outward upper and lower contact portions.
 3. The holder according to claim 1, wherein said fixing portion comprises at least one fixing groove, said upper and said lower contact portions projected inward said fixing groove are disposed on an inner wall of each said fixing groove; said another fixing portion comprises at least one fixing rod, said fixing rods are respectively accepted in each said fixing groove.
 4. The holder according to claim 1, wherein said upper and said lower contact portions are circular, said another fixing portion comprises fixing rods respectively engaged with said upper and said lower contact portions.
 5. The holder according to claim 2, wherein said upper and said lower contact portions are formed by coupling an elastic material to a periphery of said fixing rod.
 6. The holder according to claim 2, wherein said fixing groove is disposed on a center of said main body; a plurality of symmetrical accepting grooves are respectively disposed on a side close to a periphery of said main body thereby being used for accepting counterweights, said counterweight is used to exert a downward force on said main body.
 7. The holder according to claim 2, wherein said fixing groove is disposed on a center of said main body, said fixing rod exerts a downward force on said main body.
 8. The holder according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of symmetrical fixing rods are disposed on a periphery of said main body; a plurality of symmetrical accepting grooves are respectively disposed on a side close to a periphery of said main body thereby being used for accepting counterweights, said counterweight is used to exert a downward force on said main body.
 9. The holder according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of symmetrical fixing grooves are disposed on a periphery of said main body, said fixing rod exerts a downward force on said main body.
 10. The holder according to claim 2, wherein another upper contact portion and another lower contact portion projected inward said fixing groove are disposed on an inner wall of said fixing groove thereby using said upper contact portion and said lower contact portion to respectively have the mutual contact restriction with said another upper contact portion and said another lower contact portion.
 11. The holder according to claim 3, wherein said upper and said lower contact portions are formed by coupling an elastic material to an inner wall of said fixing groove.
 12. The holder according to claim 3, wherein said fixing groove is disposed on a center of said main body; a plurality of symmetrical accepting grooves are respectively disposed on a side close to a periphery of said main body thereby being used for accepting counterweights, said counterweight is used to exert a downward force on said main body.
 13. The holder according to claim 3, wherein said fixing groove is disposed on a center of said main body, said fixing rod exerts a downward force on said main body.
 14. The holder according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of symmetrical fixing rods are disposed on a periphery of said main body; a plurality of symmetrical accepting grooves are respectively disposed on a side close to a periphery of said main body thereby being used for accepting counterweights, said counterweight is used to exert a downward force on said main body.
 15. The holder according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of symmetrical fixing grooves are disposed on a periphery of said main body, said fixing rod exerts a downward force on said main body.
 16. The holder according to claim 5, wherein said upper contact and outer edges of said lower contact portion and lower contact portion are respectively coupled to a contact portion made from a hard material.
 17. The holder according to claim 8, wherein said framework is provided with an indented-downward side, said fixing grooves are positioned on said side, a bottom of each said fixing groove is provided with a weephole.
 18. The holder according to claim 11, wherein outer edges of said upper contact portion and said lower contact portion are respectively to a contact portion made from a hard material.
 19. The holder according to claim 16, wherein a fluid-storage tank is disposed in said fixing rod; said fluid-storage tank is filled up with oil, said oil contacts with inner sides of said upper contact portion and said lower contact portion.
 20. The holder according to claim 18, wherein a fluid-storage tank is disposed in an inner wall of said fixing groove; said fluid-storage tank is filled up with oil, said oil contacts with inner sides of said upper contact portion and said lower contact portion.
 21. The holder according to claim 19, wherein said fluid-storage tank is circular.
 22. The holder according to claim 2, wherein an outside wall of said fixing groove is pivotally connected to a pivoting portion of a support racket.
 23. The holder according to claim 2, wherein an outside wall of said fixing rod is pivotally connected to a pivoting portion of a support racket; said fixing groove is provided with a hole for allowing said support racket to be passed through.
 24. The holder according to claim 3, wherein an outside wall of said fixing groove is pivotally connected to a pivoting portion of a support racket.
 25. The holder according to claim 3, wherein an outside wall of said fixing rod is pivotally connected to a pivoting portion of a support racket; said fixing groove is provided with a hole for allowing said support racket to be passed through.
 26. The holder according to claim 22, wherein said pivoting portion of said support bracket is positioned between said upper contact portion and said lower contact portion.
 27. The holder according to claim 23, wherein said pivoting portion of said support bracket is positioned between said upper contact portion and said lower contact portion.
 28. The holder according to claim 24, wherein said pivoting portion of said support bracket is positioned between said upper contact portion and said lower contact portion.
 29. The holder according to claim 25, wherein said pivoting portion of said support bracket is positioned between said upper contact portion and said lower contact portion.
 30. The holder according to claim 26, wherein said pivoting portion of said support racket is a ball bearing.
 31. The holder according claim 1, wherein said fixing portion comprises at least one fixing groove, upper and lower ends of an inner wall of each said fixing groove are respectively taken as said upper contact portion and said lower contact portion; an lower end of said fixing groove is provided with a weephole; said another fixing portion comprises at least one fixing rod, said fixing rods are respectively accepted in each said fixing groove; an lower end of said fixing rod is extended up to an lower side of said lower contact portion.
 32. The holder according to claim 1, wherein said fixing portion comprises at least one fixing groove; said another fixing portion comprises at least one fixing rod and said fixing rods are respectively accepted in each said fixing groove; upper and lower ends of an inner wall of said fixing groove are respectively taken as said upper contact portion and said lower contact portion.
 33. The holder according to claim 32, said fixing groove and said fixing rod are respectively disposed on said main body and said framework.
 34. The holder according to claim 32, wherein said fixing rod and said fixing groove are respectively disposed on said main body and said framework.
 35. The holder according to claim 1, wherein said fixing portion comprises at least one fixing groove; said another fixing portion comprises at least one fixing rod and said fixing rods are respectively accepted in each said fixing groove; a upper end of an inner wall of said fixing groove is taken as said upper contact portion and a portion of said inner wall of said fixing groove corresponding an lower end of said fixing rod is taken as said lower contact portion.
 36. The holder according to claim 35, wherein said fixing groove and said fixing rod are respectively disposed on said main body and said framework.
 37. The holder according to claim 1, wherein said fixing portion comprises at least one fixing groove; said another fixing portion comprises at least one fixing rod and said fixing rods are respectively accepted in each said fixing groove; a portion of an inner wall of said fixing groove corresponding to an upper end of said fixing rod is taken as said upper contact portion and a lower end of said inner wall of said fixing groove is taken as said lower contact portion.
 38. The holder according to claim 37, wherein said fixing groove and said fixing rod are respectively disposed on said main body and said framework.
 39. The holder according to claim 1, wherein said fixing portion comprises at least one fixing groove; said another fixing portion comprises at least one fixing rod and said fixing rods are respectively accepted in each said fixing groove; an outer diameter of said fixing rod is provided with a projection section; upper and lower ends of said projection section are respectively taken as said upper contact portion and said lower contact portion.
 40. The holder according to claim 39, wherein said fixing groove and said fixing rod are respectively disposed on said main body and said framework.
 41. The holder according to claim 39, wherein said fixing rod and said fixing groove are respectively disposed on said main body and said framework. 